The NHL is "looking into" the Islanders’ promotion of a party Friday night for fans "to watch the re-airing of a Feb. 11 brawl-filled game against the Pittsburgh Penguins that resulted in multiple suspensions and the Islanders being fined $100,000,” according to Kevin Allen of USA TODAY. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said, “We do not approve of the use, based on what we know.” Allen notes the Islanders are promoting the viewing party on their website under the headline, “#Isles vs. Pens rewind.” MSG Plus is re-airing the game Friday night (USA TODAY, 8/16). In Pittsburgh, Josh Yohe reports Penguins GM Ray Shero “just shook his head and smiled when speaking of the Islanders’ plan to glorify a night that the Penguins believe was more of an ambush than a game.” Shero said, “If they want to revisit it, that’s fine. That’s not a game we want to revisit. We’ve put it behind us. We’re not proud of it. It’s time to move on” (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 8/16). Also in Pittsburgh, Shelly Anderson writes, “We get that there haven’t been a lot of highlight games involving the Islanders in recent seasons, but this seems a bit over the top, like inviting people to come cheer on a train wreck or at least a ‘Slap Shot’ remake” (POST-GAZETTE.com, 8/14). L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke said, “I’d go to the party, I’d stand on the table and I’d yell, ‘This is why everybody thinks hockey fans are nuts. This is why your sport is a niche sport, you celebrating something like this. Shame on all of you’” ("Around The Horn,” ESPN, 8/15).
